Address: Novgorod region, Veliky Novgorod, Kremlin.

Hagia Sophia in Novgorod was built in 1045-1050. by order of the Novgorod prince Vladimir. The cathedral was built of cut stone and thin brick and was initially unplastered, making its white and pink walls look very picturesque. This can be judged from a fragment of masonry in the south-eastern part of the wall, specially cleared of plaster by restorers.

Before the stone Sophia, there was a wooden Sophia Church in Novgorod, made of oak “with thirteen peaks,” built in Detinets in 989. It did not stand in the same place as the current cathedral, but on the site of another church, Boris and Gleb.

Scientists believe that the wooden temple burned down during the construction of the new stone one, and for a long time its place stood empty.

The builders of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod were Kyiv craftsmen, who built the temple on the model of St. Sophia of Kyiv.

The huge, slightly asymmetrical building of the cathedral is crowned with six massive domes - a central five-domed dome and a separate dome above a quadrangular extension, inside of which there is an ascent to the choir, where the Novgorod nobility were seated during services. The walls of the cathedral are divided by simple, strict blades. Initially, the cathedral was surrounded by open and covered two-tier galleries, which were later built and turned into closed parts of the temple.

From the outside the temple looks like a real giant. Inside, its space is divided by painted pillars into small parts, high and narrow, which makes it seem that the cathedral is very cramped. And only at the iconostasis itself it becomes more spacious. The paintings in the cathedral were repeatedly renewed and rewritten, but already in the 20th century, restorers managed to discover a number of frescoes that were contemporary with the cathedral. Thus, the fresco “Constantine and Helen” of the 11th century in the southern vestibule was preserved under layers of later paintings, and fragments of paintings of the 12th century were discovered and cleared in the central dome.

From the very moment of its construction, the cathedral was also used as a tomb for the Novgorod princes and high clergy. In the cathedral itself there are shrines with the relics of saints - the Novgorod prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the builder of the cathedral, his mother Princess Anna, former princess Ingigerda, Saint John, Archbishop of Novgorod, and Prince Theodore Yaroslavich, brother of Alexander Nevsky.

Of particular interest are the famous Magdeburg Gates (otherwise called Korsun Gates), brought by the Novgorodians from Sweden. These are tall, skillfully made doors with 48 cast bronze plates, fitted to each other. Each plate depicts figures or subjects. The huge gates were already assembled in Novgorod.

During Soviet times, services were still held in the cathedral for some time, but the removal of valuables from the cathedral's storage facilities did not stop. Many valuable items have been lost, stolen, or simply turned into scrap. In the 1920s, a museum of atheism was opened in the cathedral. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral was badly damaged and was destroyed and looted by the Nazis. After the war, it took decades to restore it, but after the restoration the cathedral almost became a kind of “Palace of Culture”, far from sacred music and religion in general. In 1991 The cathedral was handed over to believers, and services are held there again.

Previous photo Next photo

From the very moment of its foundation, and this happened at the dawn of the 11th century, the Novgorod Hagia Sophia Cathedral was and remains to this day one of the symbols of this ancient Russian city. Built “in the image and likeness” of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, it still has its own characteristics and itself becomes a model for the Novgorod style of churches. The majestic, powerful building made of durable stone is crowned with five domes in the shape of helmets of ancient Russian warriors, four of which are lead-colored, and the fifth sparkles in the sun with golden reflections.

In fairness, it must be said that the St. Sophia Cathedral that has reached its contemporaries is its second incarnation. For the first time, the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod was created from wood by skilled Novgorod carpenters. However, the building stood for about half a century and burned to the ground in another fire. After this, Prince Vladimir (son of Yaroslav the Wise) decided to build a stone church, similar to the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral, so beloved by his father. Actually, the craftsmen for construction were called from Kyiv - in Novgorod at that time the construction of wooden buildings was practiced.

The walls of the cathedral hid (and perhaps truly guard some treasures to this day) many treasures and hiding places, where the wealth of wealthy Novgorodians and Prince Vladimir himself were kept. According to legend, it was his “burial place” that was found by Ivan the Terrible, who learned about the hiding place from nowhere. However, the tsar precisely indicated the place where the treasures were embedded in the wall of the church, and transported them to Moscow. In addition to personal treasures, the treasury of the Novgorod Republic was also kept in the caches of the cathedral.

St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod

Interiors and architecture of the cathedral

The Korsun or Sigtuna Gate is a military trophy that the Novgorodians brought from the conquered Swedish city of Sigtuna. The gate is a rare example of artistic casting from Western Europe, which dates back to the 12th century. They were made by craftsmen from Magdeburg, Germany, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments on bronze plates. Above the plots there are explanatory inscriptions in Latin, and just below there is a translation into Russian. At the very bottom there are 3 figures of foundry workers: two German authors and a Novgorod master who assembled and completed the gate before installation in the church.

Another relic of the cathedral, which in the 70s of the 16th century Ivan the Terrible took to Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, is the Vasilievsky Gate.

Another relic of the cathedral, which in the 70s of the 16th century Ivan the Terrible took to Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, is the Vasilievsky Gate. They are also a striking example of the filigree craftsmanship of the Middle Ages craftsmen. The gate received its name from the name of the customer - Archbishop Vasily Kalika, whose portrait the master immortalized on the gate. The Vasilyevsky Gates, made of copper and decorated with gold, depict gospel scenes. Not without Kitovras (a centaur from legends), whom the masters of ancient Novgorod loved to portray. The same character is immortalized on the Sigtuna Gate.

History of the construction of the cathedral

Built from slabs of limestone and shell rock, at first the cathedral was brighter and more welcoming both outside and inside. The initially untreated stone was plastered in the mid-12th century, softening the rough appearance, and the interior of the cathedral shone with richly decorated icon frames and precious utensils. During its history, the St. Sophia Cathedral has undergone many changes and reconstructions (open galleries were laid out, which “did not take root” in the cold climate, and the cathedral acquired a more austere “gloomy” appearance, later the “Golden” porch was added), “grew” into the ground almost 1.5 meters and was even plundered by the guardsmen of Ivan the Terrible, who took icons, bells and precious utensils from the sacristy and even broke down the famous Korsun Gate.

After reconstructions in the Middle Ages and destruction caused during the Great Patriotic War(at that time they were taken from the cathedral to fascist Germany carved wooden vestibule and iconostasis, however, they were later found and returned to their homeland), this temple of God acquired a gloomy, austere, even stern appearance. The interior space is not very well divided by an iconostasis with icons dating from the 14th to 16th centuries; the frescoes of the 11th century have faded greatly, and most of them have not survived to this day. The reason for this is the unsuccessful restoration work that was carried out in the Hagia Sophia at the beginning of the 20th century, and the military actions of the First World War.

Fortunately, on the ancient plaster, which has survived to this day, scientists were able to find inscriptions from parishioners who lived in the 11th-13th centuries - about various events in the city, texts of prayers and... autographs, and during excavations, samples of mosaics were discovered that decorated the pillars in front of the altar, and fragments of the floor. Also, some volumes from the once rich library that was collected in the St. Sophia Cathedral have survived to this day - historical chronicles, collections of recipes and descriptions of herbs, mathematical treatises.

As a tomb, the Novgorod Cathedral of Sophia serves the saints Princess Anna (the wife of Yaroslav the Wise), Prince Vladimir (the founder of the cathedral and the son of Yaroslav the Wise) and his wife Alexandra, Princes Fyodor and Mstislav (brother and grandfather of Alexander Nevsky), Archbishops Nikita and John. Also in this temple, other noble princes, the first archbishops and canonized saints were buried.

With the Bolsheviks coming to power in the late 1920s, services in the temple were stopped and an anti-religious museum was opened within its walls, putting on public display the “countless riches” of the church from among the jewelry that was kept in the sacristy. After the war, the destruction caused to the St. Sophia Cathedral was eliminated, and until the early 90s of the last century it was a department of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve. And on August 16, 1991, in a solemn ceremony, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II consecrated the returned Russian Orthodox Church St. Sophia Cathedral of Veliky Novgorod.

Address: Kremlin Territory, 11

Until the end of his life, Yaroslav the Wise was grateful to the Novgorodians who placed him on the Kiev throne. He gave them his beloved son, Vladimir, as a prince, and when he and the Novgorod squad, on his father’s orders, defeated the Volga Bulgarians and captured rich booty, Yaroslav did not skimp: he gave everything to Novgorod.

And the Novgorodians decided to build a stone cathedral - no worse than St. Sophia of Kyiv. By order of Prince Vladimir, the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral, crowned with five chapters, was erected.

It was built under the obvious influence of the famous Kyiv Cathedral: cross vaults, choirs for the prince. But local tastes also appeared here: the design of the Novgorod temple is more massive, the internal space is more static and closed, and the galleries in Sofia Novgorod are twice as wide as in Kyiv, since small side churches were located here.

Before the construction of this cathedral, there were two churches in Novgorod, built by the first Novgorod bishop Joachim Korsunyanin. When he first arrived in Novgorod, the bishop baptized many Novgorodians who were pagans, he threw the Novgorod idol of Perun into the Volkhov, and destroyed all its temples and temples. For the newly converted Novgorodians, he built two churches in 989: the first in the name of Sophia - from an oak forest with thirteen domes, symbolizing the Savior and 12 apostles. But this church burned down in 1052.

Another church was built in honor of Joachim and Anna, it was made of stone, and services were held in it before the construction of Sophia of Novgorod.

Sophia of Novgorod took seven years to build, and its consecration took place in 1052. After the consecration of the cathedral, Saint Prince Vladimir lived for less than a month, died on October 4, 1052 and was buried in the Church of Hagia Sophia.

The cathedral was built of simple hewn stone and brick. It has six domes, five of which are in the middle, and the sixth on the southwest side above the stairs leading to the choir. The largest chapter (middle) at first had the shape of an overturned cauldron, but then an onion-shaped top was built over it. The middle chapter in 1408 was lined with copper sheets gilded through fire, and the other chapters of the cathedral were covered with lead.

The crosses on the domes were also copper, gilded through fire. At the top of the cross of the middle chapter there is a metal dove, which serves as a symbol of the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit over the temple and all those praying.

Initially, the St. Sophia Novgorod Cathedral (like all ancient churches in general) was built with one chapel in the name of the Dormition of the Mother of God, but then five more chapels were built.

By appearance The cathedral is a regular quadrangle, rising without ledges from the base to the roof. From the eastern part it stands out as three semicircles according to the number of three components his: the table (throne), the altar and the deacon.

Before the restoration in 1900, there were three entrances to the cathedral (on the western, northern and southern sides), and then instead of a window on the northeastern side, another entrance was built - for the clergy.

Power at the end of the 11th century rarely remained in the hands of one prince for a long time. The prince appeared in Novgorod for only two or three years, and then left. During this period, Sophia of Novgorod lost its inextricable connection with the prince in the minds of the townspeople and became a kind of symbol of the Novgorod Republic. A veche gathered next to the temple, where solemn prayers were held in honor of military victories, those elected were elevated to the highest positions, and the treasury was kept. Therefore, for 58 years the cathedral remained unpainted. There is no exact and definite information about the original wall painting of the cathedral. It is only known that Greek icon painters were specially called in to paint the main dome.

Only in 1108, by order of Bishop Nikita, Sophia of Novgorod was decorated with frescoes. And after the death of Saint Nikita, the painting of the cathedral continued with the funds that remained after him. An ancient legend, recorded in the Novgorod Chronicle, has been preserved about the image of Christ Pantocrator in the dome of the cathedral. Tradition tells that the masters who painted the fresco depicted the Savior with a blessing hand. However, the next morning the hand

turned out to be compressed. Three times the artists rewrote the image until a voice came from it: “Clerks, clerks! Oh, clerks! Do not write me with a blessing hand [write me with a clenched hand]. Because in this hand of mine I hold this Great Novegrad; When this [hand] of mine extends, then this city will come to an end.” Unfortunately, this image was lost during the Great Patriotic War.

In the southern gallery of the temple there is an image of Constantine and Helen, which is still being debated among researchers. The images of the Byzantine emperor, who proclaimed Christianity as the state religion, and his mother, who in 326 found in Jerusalem the cross on which Christ was crucified, could not be more suitable for the main cathedral of Novgorod. They clearly demonstrated the triumph of Christianity and the holiness of pious kings. The technique of execution and stylistic features of the image were unusual. Scientists have found that both the painting technique and the selection of colors were atypical for Russian masters. Therefore, researchers suggested that this image was painted by a Western European or Scandinavian master in 1144 (or around that year). This hypothesis has a basis, because Novgorod, in its own way, geographical location gravitated towards the northern countries of Europe. And in the very appearance of Sofia of Novgorod, features of Romanesque architecture appeared (in particular, the technique of laying walls from huge, irregularly shaped stones). The mighty walls of the temple, made of wild stones with their uneven, rough surface, were not plastered until the middle of the 12th century. But then the plaster gave the cathedral integrity and an epic character.

Above the western entrance on the walls were painted: in the upper compartment - a conversation of the forefather Abraham with three angels under the Mamrian oak tree, in the lower compartment - Sophia the Wisdom of God, a miraculous image of the Lord Jesus Christ and on the sides two archangels.

But very little remains of the cathedral's ancient frescoes. Only in the main dome of Sophia of Novgorod does the Pantocrator-Almighty look down from heaven in all his luminous grandeur. Images of archangels under it and in the walls of the windows - prophets - have also been preserved. But this dome painting was constantly subject to corrections throughout the life of the cathedral.

In the center of the main apse is the image of Our Lady of the “Unbreakable Wall”. She stands on an oblong quadrangular dais, her blue chiton is surrounded by a pink belt with a white shawl in front. On either side of her stand two angels in the attire of ancient Greek kings. In one hand the angels hold a staff, and with the other they point to the Mother of God...

Built in 1050 after its Kyiv namesake, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is the oldest stone temple on Russian territory. Completely unique icons, preserved fragments of ancient frescoes, and miraculous relics complement the architectural beauty of the building, with which multifaceted historical events are inextricably linked. According to legend, the foundation of the cathedral took place in the presence of Yaroslav the Wise by his son Vladimir, who died shortly after the consecration of the temple in 1052.

Located in the northern part of the city Kremlin, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod was both a religious shrine and a repository of treasury valuables. The appearance of the cathedral is quite well known and popular. To emphasize the antiquity of the temple, let us recall that it was built even before the final split of Christianity.

By a great miracle, or rather by the providence of God, it has survived to this day, having survived a number of critical events. The temple remains the cathedral of the Novgorod diocese, providing everyone with access to the stored priceless historical relics. Maintained in perfect condition, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod remains an architectural gem.

St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod - from a distance and in detail

The location of the temple is fully consistent with the canons of Christianity - altar apses in the east, main entrance from the west. The quadrangle of the main volume, topped with five domes, has galleries of 2 floors on the west, north and south. The entrance tower south of the main entrance has its own sixth dome, which distinguishes the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod from other churches.

Another distinctive feature Novgorod Sofia, which presumably arose during construction, is a vertically elongated volume. This upward thrust, visible from the outside and especially inside, became a signature feature of local temple construction. St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is externally distinguished by its domes in the shape of Russian military helmets, gray in color, except for the gilded central one. There are other differences, more on them later.

Holy heroic prince

A memorial plaque on the wall of the cathedral reminds that the troops of Prince Alexander Nevsky left for fateful battles. The famous commander and his warriors defeated the Swedes on the Neva, from where the descendant of Monomakh and Rurik received his nickname, which became his surname. His merits include the liberation of a number of cities from the Teutonic invaders - the Germans, including the legendary victory on Lake Peipus (Battle of the Ice).

Alexander Nevsky was the Prince of Novgorod until 1251, when he became the Grand Duke of Vladimir. It is known that he rejected the Pope’s proposal to convert to Catholicism, and in relations with the Golden Horde he proved himself to be a subtle diplomat. He was canonized as an Orthodox saint, and Stalin declared him a national hero; one of the most honorable orders was named after him.

Fresco and gate

The western facade with which the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod faces into the space of the Vladychny Courtyard is very remarkable. A fragment of an 11th century fresco has been preserved here and provided with a special shelter, allowing one to imagine at least the tonality of the ancient design. Some images are visible along the periphery of the selected area, the content of the main image can only be guessed, or learned from the articles of scientists.

Another remarkable exhibit of the western facade is the Magdeburg Gate, which has several other names, as well as versions of its acquisition. The opinion was expressed that this was a military trophy of the Novgorod warriors of the 12th century, taken from the ancient Swedish capital (hence the name Sigtuna). Other sources speak of a gift from German craftsmen or purchase by local merchants.

Only the German origin of the product does not cause discrepancies, and even the names of the foundry workers from Magdeburg and their figures with tools in their hands are displayed on the metal. The depictions of scenes from the Bible, including people, animals and architectural elements, are quite clear, with captions in Latin. There is also an addition in Russian about the master Abraham who assembled the gates with his figure.

For many centuries, the Magdeburg Gate in the western facade was the daily entrance to the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod. Now they are used only on holidays, when the archbishop participates in the service. The daily passage of both parishioners to church services and inquisitive admirers of antiquity is carried out through the southern entrance; the gate there is also not new, but not like the front gate.

Here, a bronze cast plaque is mounted on one of the ordinary wooden doors. It indicates high status in modern Russian language Cathedral, visiting hours as a museum and times of worship. The only elements of decoration include door handles made of bronze using the casting method. Carrying out a visit during public hours, we were convinced of the piety of a significant part of museum visitors.

Interiors and relics of the Novgorod temple

The first impression of those entering the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod in most cases is a feeling of some cramped space. It seems so not so much from the considerable number of visitors, but from the disproportion of the area and volume inside the building. The high height of the ceilings in the passage contrasts with its small width, which is further reduced due to the candlesticks placed under the images.

The church bench located on the path of visitors does not add space either; although it is located in a niche, it limits the passage with a counter. But the range of goods here is quite diverse, from religious literature and symbols to holy images of a wide variety of sizes and quality of work. The only free space left is the space under the ceiling, illuminated by the light of the chandeliers.

Visitors experience different sensations near the altar iconostasis, where it is much freer. The first and main impression for most is the obvious, even excessive modesty of the design. I wouldn’t dare call it scarcity, but the muted colors, the lack of significant decor, gilding, and bright details are noticeable. However, modesty is not a vice; perhaps this was the case in the old days.

The altar iconostasis of the temple contains a number of rare and especially revered icons, about which prudent visitors found information in advance. It is near these images that visitors who want to get help or solve problems concentrate. First of all, these are the icons of Sophia of the Wisdom of God, Tikhvin Mother of God and an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign placed in a cabinet in front of the iconostasis.

Features of Sofia Novgorod

The St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod looks very attractive if you look towards the main dome. The dizzying height is mesmerizing, the feeling is enhanced by the vertical projections of the walls. It seems that top part structures retained fragments of ancient paintings, but the central image of Christ, as it was knocked out by a fascist shell, was never restored.

What distinguishes the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod from others Orthodox churches something else almost elusive, at the level of a subconscious guess. The iconostasis, separating the altar space from the public space, seems alien in this setting. And this is true, it was erected later than the consecration of the cathedral, after the final demarcation of Catholics and Orthodox Christians to the level of mutual curses.

The contradictions between the branches of one religion stemmed from the desire for dominance, common among politicians, but unsuitable for the servants of God. The division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern, which later became Byzantium, gave rise to contradictions not only between states. In the foreseeable future, this conflict will be a thousand years old; will Christians never unite?

Holy relics and customs

In addition to the already mentioned miraculous icons, the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod preserves a number of relics of Orthodox saints. The first to rest here was the wife of Yaroslav the Wise Anna, the mother of the builder of the temple. The death of Vladimir Yaroslavich immediately after the consecration has already been mentioned, but he was only 32 years old. Using the example of this person, we show how and in what way the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod stores the relics.

The canonization of Russian princes and then monarchs in Orthodoxy was common; for them there was a special face (type) of holiness, designated as the Blessed. The criteria for sainthood did not include military exploits and conquests. Godly life and works in the name of the church were celebrated. Since the construction and maintenance of temples clearly relates to such, the canonization of the one who built the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is understandable.

The reason for canonization, also in the person of Alexander Nevsky’s faithful older brother, Fyodor Yaroslavovich, is not entirely clear. He was listed as the Prince of Novgorod for only a year and died before his 15th birthday, on the eve of his marriage. Our photo shows a parishioner worshiping his relics; apparently, choosing an idol for veneration is a delicate matter or unknown to us.

However, church rituals are in many ways mysterious to the laity, who do not delve too deeply into these subtleties. Not everyone can even correctly light a candle for health or repose now; there are people who do not see the difference in these categories. It is good that in any temple there is a benevolent adviser, be it a visitor or a priest. Therefore, it is rare for visitors to leave the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod without placing one or another candle in one of the temple’s candlesticks.

For those who visited the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod, the Kremlin territory offers a number of educational objects. These are the fortress walls with preserved watchtowers, and the Sofia Belfry, which once collapsed along with the wall washed away by the flood. Between it and the temple in the picture you can see the building of the music college (former theological school), where there is a folk museum of Arensky, Lyadov and Rachmaninov. Don’t forget about the one seen in one of the first photographs.

St. Sophia Cathedral of Novgorod is a famous monument of ancient Russian architecture. The significance of this Council in the life of ancient Novgorod was great. The independence of Novgorod Sofia was the symbolism of the free city of Novgorod.

In 1045, the foundation stone of the Church of Sophia of the Wisdom of God took place, where Yaroslav the Wise, who arrived from Kyiv to Novgorod, was present with the princess. The Cathedral was built before 1050. It was consecrated by Bishop Luke, while data from various chronicles indicate that this event happened in 1050 - 1052.

The temple is crowned with five domes, which in ancient times were covered with lead sheets. The central dome was covered with gilded copper in the 15th century. The poppies are made in the form of ancient Russian helmets. The walls were not whitewashed, with the exception of the apses and drums, and were covered with tsemyanka (natural paint). The inside walls are not painted, the vaults are covered with frescoes. The design was influenced by the architecture of Constantinople. Wall marble was combined with mosaic ornaments of the vaults. Later, in 1151, limestone replaced marble and frescoes replaced mosaics. The cathedral was first painted in 1109. From the frescoes of the Middle Ages, fragments remain in the central dome and the painting “Constantine and Helen” in the Martiryevskaya porch. There is a version that this image could become the basis of a mosaic, since the frescoes were made with fairly diluted paints. The fresco of the main dome “Pantocrator” was destroyed during the war. The main painting dates from the 19th century. In the southern gallery there are known burials of prominent Novgorodians - bishops, princes, mayors.

You can enter the temple through the Northern doors. During the archbishop's service, the main gate, the Western Gate, is opened. A bronze gate made in the Romanesque style, with many sculptures and high reliefs, is built into the western portal. They were made in Magdeburg in the 12th century, and in the same century they came to Novgorod from Sweden as a war trophy.

With the construction of the temple, the Novgorodians developed a special relationship with it. “Where Sofia is, there is Novgorod,” the residents said. This idea was developed in the 15th century, when the central dome of the five-domed building was gilded, and a lead dove was placed on its cross, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The legend says that Ivan the Terrible treated the Novgorodians cruelly in 1570. At this time, a dove sat on Sophia’s cross. He was petrified with horror when he saw the terrible massacre from above. Afterwards, the Mother of God revealed to one monk that God had sent a dove to console the city, and until the dove flies from the cross, He protects the city with help from above.

In ancient times, the Cathedral had an altar barrier. It included the images that have come down to us: “Apostles Peter and Paul” and “Savior on the Throne” of the 11th - 12th centuries. A high iconostasis was installed in the Cathedral in the 14th-16th centuries. The silvery reflections of the frames, the colorful brightness of the icons of the Nativity and Dormition iconostases attract the eye, lifting it to the heights of the dome and arches.

The architectural structure of the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral is perfect. The Kyiv and Byzantine architects who erected it conveyed in the 11th century through the main building the essence of the character of the city of Novgorod: the grandeur of church thought and its spiritual power. Saint Sophia of Novgorod differs from its predecessor - the Cathedral in Kyiv - in the severity of its forms and compact volumes. The cathedral is 27 m long, 24.8 m wide; with galleries, length 34.5 m, width 39.3 m. The total height from the ancient floor to the central cross of the chapter is 38 m. The walls are 1.2 m thick and made of limestone different color. The stones are not hewn and are held together with a mortar of lime mixed with crushed brick. The arches, their lintels and vaults are lined with brick.

The cathedral houses the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” from 1170. The icon protected Novgorod from the attack of the Suzdal prince Andrei. For Novgorodians this event was very significant; even a special celebration was established.

In 1929, the cathedral was closed and a museum was opened in it. It displays the treasures of the sacristy. During the occupation, the temple was looted and damaged. After the war it was restored and made a department of the Novgorod Museum. In 1991 the cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Alexy II consecrated it on August 16, 1991. In 2005-2007, the domes of the Cathedral were restored.